'I don't feel underrated but under-utilised': Kunal Kemmu

Like every actor in Bollywood, Kunal Khemu has also seen ups and downs in his career but what keeps him going is appreciation he has received from audiences. Kunal feels content with his journey in industry but at same time, he believes that his potential as an actor is still untapped.

"Today, I don't feel underrated but under-utilised. But at same time, I have a different outlook towards things. I feel that I have been doing this for a long time and still doing it. I want to continue doing it for a very long time," actor told PTI in an interview. "On one side, I can feel that I do deserve more and I should have got more but at same time, I'm thankful for what I have because I could have very well been a forgotten memory. I have realised that only thing I can do is to keep working on myself," he added.

Kunal's tryst with Hindi cinema began in 1990s when he started acting as child artiste with Mahesh Bhatt's "Sir", opposite Atul Agnihotri,Pooja Bhatt, Naseeruddin Shah, and Paresh Rawal. Over years, he featured in many critically-acclaimed movies such as "Hum Hai Rahi Pyaar Ke", "Zakhm", "Bhai" and "Dushman".

In 2005, it was again Bhatt that launched Kunal as a lead hero with his 2005 production "Kalyug". He followed it up with films like "Traffic Signal" and "Superstar", before venturing into comedies like "Dhol", Golmaal 3" and "Go Goa Gone". 37-year-old actor said even today, re are people who would mistake him for a newcomer as he sports same nervous look ahead of his film's release.

"re are so many people who have said that I feel like a newcomer because whenever my film comes in one or two years, n I have same nervousness. I think people have given me a lot of love. It has t translated into me getting parts in big films that some people and I also believe that I deserve. But I have always got love from whoever has watched my films. I have got my recognition from m. What would be more detrimental to me is someone saying, 'I didn't like you in that film'," Kunal said.

He currently features in "Lootcase", a film that, actor insists, was made for atres but due to coronavirus pandemic, was released on streamer Disney+ Hotstar. "'Lootcase' was t made with intent of releasing it on an OTT platform. energies associated with it are entirely atre-centric. When we were making film, we imagined that audiences will be enjoying it in a cinema hall.

"When we watch a film with a bigger, n that energy and that atmosphere is entirely different. Somewhere we will miss that." Kunal, however, is also very well aware of positives of launching a movie on a streamer. "re is a level playing field on OTT because content does t have a lifespan like y do on atres or on television. A film won't be available for just a week or two but it is re forever. Whenever a person feels like, he or she can watch movie."

A film can also avoid usual trappings of industry that is mostly concerned about numbers it amasses on its opening day, actor added.

" film industry is still run by whole formula of box office success. People are concerned about opening of ir film as that would decide future of an actor and a director.

"Such a scenario is t re on OTT as you would never kw about fate of a film. It could be a big hit or t in atres." film, directed by Rajesh Krishnan, features Kunal as a lower middle class guy who finds a bag loaded with money. What he doesn't kw is that a corrupt politician, an underworld don, and a cop are also after that bag.

Besides him, film also features Gajraj Rao, Vijay Raaz, Ranvir Shorey, and Rasika Dugal. It started streaming on Disney+ Hotstar from July 31.